Apirogue is a dugout canoe used by Native Americans of the American South and the Carribean basin. The name derives from the Taino Indian word piragua, which was likely introduced to Louisiana vernacular by Spanish settlers. In a wetland environment like Louisiana, the pirogue was the fundamental form of transportation for the Indians and early settlers, who quickly adopted the use of the boat.
This pirogue was found in a river bank near Port Gibson, Mississippi, and was likely made by a member of the Choctaw Nation. As the French first settled the lower Mississippi Valley in the early 1700s,, The Choctaw became major allied of the French, and later became allies of the United States. Today, the Choctaw have reservations in both Mississippi and Oklahoma.
The pirogues are made of cypress, in which the inside was burned and scraped. Cypress is ideal wood for boats, as it is rot resistant. This pirogue was covered with tar to add additional water proofing. 4 to 5 persons could ride in it as well as items for trading. Passengers propelled the pirogue with long poles or paddles. While the bottom of this pirogue is curved, many modern pirogues have a flat bottom allowing passengers to pass over very shallow mud flats.
A pirogue is a dugout canoe used by Native Americans of the American South and the Carribean basin. The name derives from the Taino Indian word piragua, which was likely introduced to Louisiana vernacular by Spanish settlers. In a wetland environment like Louisiana, the pirogue was the fundamental form of transportation for the Indians and early settlers, who quickly adopted the use of the boat.
This pirogue was found in a river bank near Port Gibson, Mississippi, and was likely made by a member of the Choctaw Nation. As the French first settled the lower Mississippi Valley in the early 1700s,, The Choctaw became major allied of the French, and later became allies of the United States. Today, the Choctaw have reservations in both Mississippi and Oklahoma.
The pirogues are made of cypress, in which the inside was burned and scraped. Cypress is ideal wood for boats, as it is rot resistant. This pirogue was covered with tar to add additional water proofing. 4 to 5 persons could ride in it as well as items for trading. Passengers propelled the pirogue with long poles or paddles. While the bottom of this pirogue is curved, many modern pirogues have a flat bottom allowing passengers to pass over very shallow mud flats.